About

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant

$125,098

pledged of $40,000 goal

1,808

backers

In the early years of the 21st century, the Galatea space station unexpectedly exploded. People across the globe began manifesting the ability to control quantum forces. Scientists hail them as Homo sapiens novus, a new evolution of humanity. The media dubs them novas, the superheroes for a new age. Of course, heroism isn’t for everyone. What would you do with the power of a god?

The Aberrant setting expands the Trinity Continuum timeline with a new system and setting revised from the ground up. Trinity Continuum: Aberrant is the next edition of the superpowers game Aberrant, released in 1999. This new edition features mechanics that are both flexible and fast as well as nova powers designed to scale through the degrees of power that novas can reach. While the setting is quite similar to the original edition’s, it has been updated to further enable heroic roleplaying.

The Trinity Continuum is a vast timeline of adventure, speckled with dramatic points across the past, present, and future, where heroes - or villains - arise. While each setting supplement will explore part of the Trinity Continuum timeline, these points in time aren't dots in a straight line - this isn't a long-form metaplot to be simply read aloud. Instead, they're points of quantum probabilities. Anything can happen, so it's up to you and your cast to make it happen!

The Trinity Continuum will grow as the timeline is explored, with possible setting supplements handling everything from ancient Greek battalions to two-fisted pulp daredevils, from dystopian brain tech to galactic imperialism.

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant is the newest setting ready to be explored on the Trinity Continuum timeline. Set in the near future, Trinity Continuum: Aberrant depicts a world just beyond tomorrow, in the year 2028. The Trinity Continuum: Aberrant setting allows for a variety of playstyles, from four-color action and space exploration, to political intrigue and deniable top-secret operations.

Not Final Cover Design

The Trinity Continuum: Aberrant setting book will be 7-inch by 10-inch hardcover book, approximately 250+ pages, with full-color interiors. Contents include:

Chapter One: History

Chapter Two: Setting

Chapter Three: Character Creation

Chapter Four: Organization and Paths

Chapter Five: New Rules

Chapter Six: Quantum Powers and Abilities

Chapter Seven: Technology

Chapter Eight: Storyguide Advice

Chapter Nine: Antagonists & Supporting Characters

Chapter Ten: Setting Secrets

Note: the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant setting book requires the Trinity Continuum Core rule book to play.

The Storypath system is Onyx Path's rules set designed specifically to allow the sort of rules scaling necessary to seamlessly enable players to play ordinary people as well as mad scientists and seasoned explorers.

The basics of the Storypath system should be familiar to anyone who has played many other Onyx Path games of action-adventure or heroic exploits, as it is a 10-sided dice pool system, where in order to resolve an action you basically roll a number of dice equal to the character's Skill + Attribute and must roll an 8 or better a certain number of times in order to succeed in the action.

That is the very basic resolution system, but we expand on that to further enhance how your gaming group can build their stories. Failing to hit your number of successes, or having more successes than your required amount, are built-in options in the rules. Here is a handy graphic that illustrates what we mean:

To further explain the basics of the Storypath system, here is a small PDF download that goes into more detail: SYSTEM PREVIEW PDF.

The main goal of this Trinity Continuum: Aberrant Kickstarter is to enable us to create a hardcover edition of the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant book compatible with the Trinity Continuum core rulebook and setting expansions (such as Trinity Continuum: Æon).

We want to create an 7" x 10" hardcover with an evocative, action-packed cover image and a Trinity Continuum trade dress. We estimate the book to be between 250-300 pages, with a full-color interior and endpapers on high quality paper stock. Exceptional funding may allow us to add Stretch Goals that further develop the setting and add additional materials for play, including scenario and chronicle options, hero and villain write-ups, and more! We also want to get at least one print run into traditional distribution and available for sale at game and hobby stores.

Beyond those campaign-specific goals, we hope to do what our games have always done - build a community invested in each other's stories and shared imagination. Every person who participates is joining with the goal of bringing this game into the world, and that common goal is a powerful binding element that we can't help but want to share. When you back this project, you join us on this journey and become part of our team.

All participants who would like to make this project happen can pledge their support and add to the overall campaign total. If the campaign meets the funding target ($40,000), then we will have funded the project and it will become a reality. Your pledge will only be collected if we achieve our funding target.

In thanks for your support, we offer rewards based on your level of funding pledged. The Reward Tiers down the right side of the page outline the various rewards reflecting various levels of support pledged. Please note that rewards may automatically add additional charges to cover shipping expenses.

To help simplify matters, the Reward Chart lists the core reward combinations, as well as the multi-copy tiers and special limited and premium reward tiers. (see Reward Descriptions, below).

Core Reward Decision: Do you save some shelf space and go digital-only with the PDF version (Elite and Defender Reward Tiers), or go all in with the hardcover (Hero Reward Tier)? And then do you add the Trinity Continuum Core Rules as a Partner to your pledge (Defender and Partner or Hero and Partner reward tiers)? Please note that physical rewards may automatically add additional charges to cover shipping expenses.

Backers looking to receive multiple copies should also note the Dynamic Duo and Super Squad Reward Tiers, which offer 2 or 5 copies respectively as part of the rewards (and may save on shipping per unit!). You can further enhance these options with a Team-up, adding the Trinity Continuum Core rules to your selection.

Finally, we love retailers, but modern publishing methods don’t always make it easy for them to get books into their stores. With this Trinity Continuum: Aberrant campaign, we have created a special Reward Tier just for you. Any retailer who pledges at the Retailer Reward Tier level (Friendly Neighborhood Retail Tier) will get 5 copies of the Trinity Continuum Core rulebook and Trinity Continuum: Aberrant hardcover books (as well as the PDF versions) at a retail-specific discount so that they can sell in-store.

In addition, a few Reward Tiers offer special limited or premium rewards in addition to the basics, including everything from a BOOK PLATE which will be signed by as many of the creative team as we can wrangle, an option to act as a ART MODEL, as well as a chance to NAME an NPC included in the Aberrant setting or a possible future supplement. Check each of the Reward Tier descriptions for more details.

ACCESS TO MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW UPDATES – During the course of the campaign, we will be posting the ENTIRE manuscript for Trinity Continuum: Aberrant. These previews will be shared via Backer-Only updates. You must be a backer of this project to receive these updates.

PDF VERSION - The digital version of the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant setting, fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Kickstarter backers will receive an early version, before it goes on sale to the public. This initial "Backer Version" will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will be automatically added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.

HARDCOVER VERSION - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a beautiful 7" x 10" hardcover edition of the game. Note that all Reward Tiers that include the Hardcover version also include the PDF version as a bonus.

TRINITY CONTINUUM CORE RULES: Contains the complete rules for playing Talents, ranging from core concepts to descriptions of secret societies around the world, as well as introductory material for playing in any of the other Trinity Continuum games. This book can be used on its own, but is necessary for playing Æon, Aberrant, and Adventure!, as well as other settings within the continuum. The material presented here is enough to play a game set in a world very similar to our modern one. Included in the Defender and Partner, Hero and Partner, Dynamic Duo Team-up, and Super Squad Team-up reward tiers. Also available as an Add On Reward (See Add Ons, below).

Trinity Continuum: Æon: A setting supplement for Trinity Continuum, this book provides complete information on the world of 2123 and all of the wonders it contains. It also includes rules for creating and playing psions, as well as a variety of advanced weapons and other devices. Requires the Trinity Continuum Core rules to play. Available as an Add On Reward (see Add Ons, below).

OPTIONAL "AT COST" PoD VERSION – For Trinity Continuum: Aberrant, you will have the option of using DriveThruRPG’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a physical, printed copy directly from their PoD partners at as close as we can get to the cost of printing and shipping (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which will be some time after the book has gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the book from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.

In addition to the rewards listed in each Reward Tier, backers can increase their overall pledge to add on the following additional rewards. Simply increase your total pledge amount by the value indicated – we will confirm which add on rewards you’ve chosen via BackerKit surveys after the campaign has run.

Digital and PDF Rewards will be fulfilled by DriveThruRPG. Previously released titles are the ones currently available from DrivethruRPG.com and were created as best they could be depending on the state of the files. So quality may vary from title to title.

All physical items that will require shipping (additional books, screens) can only be added to reward tiers that already include a hardcover copy of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant (Reward Tiers of $55+). Your rewards will be sent in a single shipment when all items are available.

A sturdy, three-panel screen featuring a collage of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant art on the outer side, and a selection of charts and other reference info on the inside to make running a Trinity Continuum: Aberrant game session a little bit easier.

A sturdy, three-panel screen featuring a collage of Trinity Continuum Core art on the outer side, and a selection of charts and other reference info on the inside to make running a Trinity Continuum Core game session a little bit easier.

A sturdy, three-panel screen featuring a collage of Trinity Continuum: Æon art on the outer side, and a selection of charts and other reference info on the inside to make running a Trinity Continuum: Æon game session a little bit easier.

As we increase the overall funding and support for the project, we’re able to add additional resources to the project, expand the rewards listed, and add in new offers and opportunities. Each Stretch Goal will have a target that, once reached, will add a project to the reward list. We will continue to build on this list when we achieve these targets during the campaign. Whenever we achieve a stretch goal, the image will be updated to reflect the achievement.

Achieved! - NEW ADD ON - Creation of an Aberrant-themed Storyguide Screen, offered as a +$20 ADD ON to any reward tier that includes the hardcover version of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant. This three panel screen will feature action-packed Aberrant art on the outer side and a selection of charts and other info on the inside to make the Storyguide's job a little bit easier.

Achieved! - ABERRANT COMIC COMPILATION - "You Are Not Alone" by Paul Jenkins & Doug Stambaugh - the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant webcomic will be compiled into a single PDF and automatically added to all reward tiers.

Achieved! - N!WE N!TERNATIONAL WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT - A new PDF product discussing the N!WE, the performers and industry personnel, and various elements of professional wrestling in the world of Aberrant. All backers receiving the PDF version of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - KICKSTARTER BACKER T-SHIRT – Hosted on the redbubble store for a limited time, a Trinity Continuum: Aberrant-themed shirt will be priced at a steep discount. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available.

Achieved! - Aberrant Worldwide: Phase I will have the original book scanned and be made available as a PDF on DrivethruRPG.com. A copy will be added to the Aberrant 1E Systems & Setting PDF Bundle.

Achieved! - PROTEUS NOVA COMPENDIUM – A new PDF product, with stat blocks for many characters featured in bio write-ups in the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant book. All backers receiving the PDF version of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - DIGITAL WALLPAPER – An awesome digital wallpaper for your computer desktop featuring art from Trinity Continuum: Aberrant. All backers will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - Project Utopia will have the original book scanned and be made available as a PDF on DrivethruRPG.com. A copy will be added to the Aberrant 1E Factions & Organizations PDF Bundle.

Achieved! - PROTEUS NOVA COMPENDIUM 2 – The project will be expanded to include a master list of all known novas from first edition that have been carried over to this new edition.

Achieved! - DIGITAL DICE - A Trinity Continuum: Aberrant D10 will be created for the Onyx Path dice-rolling app (iOs/Android). All backers receiving the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF will be able to unlock this die for free on the app.

Achieved! - Reignofevil.com will have the original book scanned and be made available as a PDF on DrivethruRPG.com. A copy will be added to the Aberrant 1E Mini Sourcebook PDF Bundle.

Achieved! - PROTEUS NOVA COMPENDIUM 3 – The project will be further expanded to include short bios for any characters on the master list that weren’t included in the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant book.

Achieved! -ABERRANT NOVELLA - A short story set in the world of Aberrant, highlighting the world and characters. All backers receiving the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - NOVAS WORLDWIDE – An introductory scenario, designed to jumpstart a longer chronicle. All backers receiving the PDF version of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant will have a PDF version of NOVAS WORLDWIDE automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - Appendix Backer Preview - The day we hit 1500 Backers, I will post the fresh-from-the-assembly-line Quick Character Creation Appendix in an early Backers Only update preview.

Achieved! - ABERRANT NOVELLA #2- A second short story set in the world of Aberrant, highlighting the world and characters. All backers receiving the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

Achieved! - NOVAS WORLDWIDE 2 – An subsequent scenario, designed to continue a longer chronicle (or possibly act as a second launch point for an ongoing story) will be added to the NOVAS WORLDWIDE PDF.

Achieved! - NOVAS WORLDWIDE 3 – A third scenario, designed to conclude a longer chronicle (or possibly act as a third launch point for an ongoing story) will be added to the NOVAS WORLDWIDE PDF.

Achieved! - MEGA-THANKS PAY BONUS - Celebrate the achievement of hitting 300% of our funding target by rewarding the hard work and accomplishments of the creative team for this project!

ACHIEVED!!!! - IN-GAME FICTION - Duke Rollo, direct and uncensored journalist of the world of Aberrant is back with more irreverent insights into the ironies of life in a nova-loving world. A new essay will be released as a PDF. All backers receiving the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

This is Onyx Path Publishing's 37th Kickstarter, and the company has learned how to maintain focus during a campaign to maintain manageable projects and achievable goals. To read more about the knowledge that has been applied to this project, you can read the FAQ linked here: http://theonyxpath.com/about/faq/kickstarter/

Risks and challenges

Risk: This game isn't created at all even though the goal is reached.

Solution: We have successfully shipped many Kickstarter projects and more are headed to completion as you read this. All those projects have taught us how the various pieces of the process works, and we have increased our ability to judge the various stages of delivery better with each KS. The text for Trinity Continuum: Aberrant is finished and some initial interior artwork has been contracted, so the development process is well underway.

Risk: Shipping costs soak up pledges that were meant to enable the creation of the book.

Solution: Kickstarter shipping costs have continued to rise this last year, but we are aware of that and were able to find ways to work with shippers to bring down those costs - unfortunately, only to some extent as we have also needed to increase the shipping charges- both methods allowing us to be sure that shipping doesn't eat up the pledge money supposed to go to printing.

Risk: The game will take a long time to produce and anger the backers.

Solution: We've learned many, many lessons with our previous Kickstarters and we're becoming much better at estimating the various pitfalls that will delay a KS project. We were able to deliver the PDFs for our last several KS projects several months before the estimate, and our recent campaigns have delivered rewards earlier than estimated.

That being said, backers need to be aware that they are enabling a process, and not a pre-order opportunity, and things do sometimes run slower than we want or anticipate with that process. We've found that an open flow of communication between us and the backer community is vital so once the project funds we will deliver Updates on progress once a month (or more, as needed) via Kickstarter as well as in our regular, weekly, Monday Meeting Notes blog at www.theonyxpath.com

ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

By backing this Kickstarter project, you have agreed to the following additional terms and conditions:

ARTWORK, DESIGN, MATERIAL & CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Onyx Path shares artwork, design, descriptions and manuscript contents with the understanding that changes may occur in the creation of the final product based on further development, available resources and materials, and the nature of the creative process.

REWARDS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRE TIMELY RESPONSE. Some rewards, particularly limited Special Rewards such as art model descriptions, character names, and custom design work, require input from the reward backer. For these rewards, the backer must respond within 6 weeks of the information being requested (most likely by BackerKit pledge manager survey, occasionally by direct e-mail) in order to maintain the project development and manufacturing timeline. Onyx Path will make a strong effort to acquire this information, but should the backer not provide it in a timely fashion, all parties agree that Onyx Path can move forward on the project without the information or using an appropriate substitution and the respective backer will consider the reward obligation fulfilled in full for payment or donations pledged and collected on the part of Onyx Path. The simple fact is that we cannot delay the production of the product due to a unresponsive backer, that's just not fair to the others who have supported this project.

ADDRESS CONFIRMATION & DELIVERY OBLIGATIONS. If you confirm your pledge prior to final address confirmation and initiation of distribution notification via email, you agree that our responsibility to you is to ship your order as entered into our pledge manager system, that title and risk passes to you upon delivery to a common carrier for such shipment, and you are responsible for import duties or any other duties that may be payable to the relevant tax authorities, providing correct address information and ensuring this address is deliverable by normal methods. Failure to confirm mailing address prior to final request and distribution notification will be taken as agreement that all obligations have been met and no further action or effort is required on the part of Onyx Path. We will attempt to alert you via the methods provided by Kickstarter and/or BackerKit, primarily e-mail, prior to distribution of rewards to avoid any issue, but once we’ve made all reasonable efforts, we must move on with other business and will be unable to make exceptions.

DIGITAL REWARDS. You will be notified by BackerKit when digital rewards become available to you. Typically, these will be links to load PDF titles into your account library on DriveThruRPG.com. The links from BackerKit must be activated within 90 days to ensure the titles are added to your library, after which the links may expire and Onyx Path may not be able to provide replacements.

If you do not accept these terms, please do not pledge on this project but instead wait for the general release.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 180 or more
About US$ 180

DYNAMIC DUO TEAM-UP

As thanks for your support, you'll receive TWO (2) copies of the PDF and TWO (2) copies of the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT, as well as TWO (2) copies of the PDF and TWO (2) copies of the hardcover versions of the Trinity Continuum: CORE rules.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 200 or more
About US$ 200

AUTOGRAPH AVENGER

As thanks for your support, you'll receive both the PDF and the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT, as well as a BOOK PLATE signed by members of the creative team. Additional shipping charges may apply based on your location.

Pledge US$ 225 or more
About US$ 225

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD RETAILER TIER

As thanks for your support, you'll receive FIVE(5) copies of the PDF and FIVE (5) copies of the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT, as well as FIVE (5) copies of the PDF and FIVE (5) copies of the hardcover versions of the Trinity Continuum: CORE rules.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 450 or more
About US$ 450

SUPER SQUAD TEAM-UP

As thanks for your support, you'll receive FIVE(5) copies of the PDF and FIVE (5) copies of the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT, as well as FIVE (5) copies of the PDF and FIVE (5) copies of the hardcover versions of the Trinity Continuum: CORE rules.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 475 or more
About US$ 475

VISUAL VIGILANTE

As a special reward, you will be an art model for an interior illustration for an upcoming Trinity Continuum project. You will provide photo references to be used by artists creating artwork to be featured in an upcoming book or supplement. We reserve the right to modify your submission if necessary to conform to appropriateness with the setting.

As thanks for your support, you'll receive both the PDF and the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT. Additional shipping charges may apply based on your location.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 325 or more
About US$ 325

SECRET IDENTITY

SPECIAL: You will name an NPC added and featured in the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF (or a subsequent Trinity Continuum supplement if necessary). We reserve the right to modify your submission if necessary to conform to appropriateness with the setting.

As thanks for your support, you'll receive both the PDF and the hardcover versions of Trinity Continuum: ABERRANT. Additional shipping charges may apply based on your location.